Map Reading

The whole point of riding with us is to have fun and spend quality time with your horse, riding over parts of the countryside not normally accessible. This section is here to provide you with some basic pointers before you start.

Training

There is no need to panic, Sport Endurance run training sessions, these are normally held in an evening during the winter months to prepare you for the next season. These evenings cover the following subjects. These sessions are fun, informal and extremely worthwhile.

Map reading

What kit to carry

An over view of what to expect at a ride

Pace on course

Cooling down your horse

Getting ready for competition

First Aid Training

Map Reading

The first thing you need to know about map reading for endurance riding is-not to worry if you are not an expert map reader. This is not essential to enjoy a Sport Endurance ride.
All Sport Endurance rides will be well marked using temporary spray painted arrows which you should be able to follow on route, usually without really using the map.

However it does help if you have the basics of map reading as it will allow you to:-

Plan your ride ,especially if you are competing

Feel more confident about riding in an unfamiliar area

Work out where you are in case you feel lost or have an emergency

Following the route:-
The map will have the route marked on it, with the direction on travel shown by arrows. It may have a choice of distances and routes. These are usually differentiated using different colours for different routes /distances. There will be a key to explain which colour represents which route/distance. Therefore you can see on the map where the routes are the same and where they diverge. This will help you recognise these points on the ride.

Symbols & Land Marks:-
It is useful to look at your map and pin point land marks or symbols, for example the map may show a church or railway line, as your riding the route you can pin point yourself on the map, this is useful in case of an emergency so you can explain where you are by land marks you have already passed.

Hazards:-
At the venue there will be a master copy of the map along with a risk assessment, take time to study these and mark hazards on your own map, this could be a section with lots of tree routes exposed or rabbit holes, even a slippery track anything the course markers feel could be a hazard.